BONSALL, Calif. (KGTV) – At least four avocado orchards suffered significant damage due to the Lilac Fire, which tore through the agricultural region of northern San Diego County last week.
The San Diego Farm Bureau is still calculating the damage done by the fire but as of Thursday, they estimate 100 acres of farmland has been damaged.
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Wayne Drydon with Del Rey Avocado says they lost 7 acres in the fire. He said the orchard consisted of 500 trees that were expected to produce around 100,000 pounds of fruit next season.
He said they planned to pull out the burned trees and replant in the spring, though that may be difficult. He’s been contacting nurseries to buy new avocado trees but says most of them are sold out.
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The USDA will be holding a public meeting for farmers on Tuesday, December 19.
Representatives from CalFire, the San Diego Environmental Health Department, UCCE and the USDA will be on hand to answer questions.
It will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 990 E. Mission Rd in Fallbrook at the Fallbrook Public Utility Building.
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